Planning to get my first PRS!

[Mustache]

I'm in a metal band and recently i found that my workhorse just doesn't cut it anymore, impossible intonation, worn frets, worn nut, worn bridge, you name it. getting it back in shape would cost more than the guitar itself. I found a Mark Holcomb SE model in FB marketplace and it seems to tick all the right boxes for me but im from a country where a $900 guitar would equal buying a murphy lab.

How is the quality control on these SE models?

will it last me a long time (i found out that i play hard after trying my bandmates perfectly set up guitar lol)?
is it priced to high?
will i regret it?
are the SE models that much worse than the core models?
am i better off spending that money on some other guitar?

thanks so much in advance!!

 

[Prs Mods too]

What country are you in and is $900 your currency or USD?

 

[RC Mike]

If you can play it before you buy it, you’ll be able to answer some of your questions.

Questions about money and value are both very local and personal.

 

[Greywolf]

The SE's are great bang for the buck instruments .

 

[veinbuster]

If you like it, it will last a long time.
It shouldn’t have any of the problems you currently workhorse has.
SE isn’t worse than core, just not as refined

 

[Maertl513]

I do own the SE Holcomb.
It's a great platform: Wood, satin neck, 20" radius, high quality pickups.
Optically I would flip the genuine knobs and the pickup rings.
Functional: Change to locking tuners, change to a quality nut.

To me always slightly disappointing is the sloppy string tension (in genuine Drop C tuning), especially when comparing to my lastest procurement - a seven string.
Therefore: I prefer the seven string for low notes.

In standard tuning the Holcomb may be a better axe, but all other guitars of mine are in standard tuning, so the Holcomb remains in its down tuning.

 

[Mayers Layers]

I'm in a metal band and recently i found that my workhorse just doesn't cut it anymore, impossible intonation, worn frets, worn nut, worn bridge, you name it. getting it back in shape would cost more than the guitar itself. I found a Mark Holcomb SE model in FB marketplace and it seems to tick all the right boxes for me but im from a country where a $900 guitar would equal buying a murphy lab.

How is the quality control on these SE models?

will it last me a long time (i found out that i play hard after trying my bandmates perfectly set up guitar lol)?
is it priced to high?
will i regret it?
are the SE models that much worse than the core models?
am i better off spending that money on some other guitar?

thanks so much in advance!!

My very first PRS i bought about a month ago!…..I’ll never buy any other brand again ……it is by far the best feeling, playing and enjoying guitar…..I ended up with a silver sky. I have an original’61 fender Strat, and actually prefer my Silver Sky over it……it has a much better neck feel, and those JM pickups are to die for……..best collaboration ever……it’s a vintage strat with new ergonomic features and a neck that feels like an extension of my body………when I went to guitar center I tried both the core model and the SE. needless to say I came home with the SE….the neck felt more playable and not so much radius…..I’ve already had the guitar plek’d at Mike lull’s guitars near my home…..and what a difference that made…….well worth the 200.00 …..I also installed a tortoise pickguard, back trem cover, and a core model truss rod cover…….i ended up with a stone blue body with rosewood fretboard…….the SE came set up almost perfect…..i only had to adjust the action……and intonation is by far the best I’ve ever had….if your on the fence between a core and SE, I suggest you go to a guitar shop and try them both…..they each have their own unique strengths and abilities……….im so elated with the silver sky Im buying a second one with maple fretboard……..if you order one from amazon, sometimes you can find one that had been returned for 200.00 off…….which is incredible

 

[Mayers Layers]

My very first PRS i bought about a month ago!…..I’ll never buy any other brand again ……it is by far the best feeling, playing and enjoying guitar…..I ended up with a silver sky. I have an original’61 fender Strat, and actually prefer my Silver Sky over it……it has a much better neck feel, and those JM pickups are to die for……..best collaboration ever……it’s a vintage strat with new ergonomic features and a neck that feels like an extension of my body………when I went to guitar center I tried both the core model and the SE. needless to say I came home with the SE….the neck felt more playable and not so much radius…..I’ve already had the guitar plek’d at Mike lull’s guitars near my home…..and what a difference that made…….well worth the 200.00 …..I also installed a tortoise pickguard, back trem cover, and a core model truss rod cover…….i ended up with a stone blue body with rosewood fretboard…….the SE came set up almost perfect…..i only had to adjust the action……and intonation is by far the best I’ve ever had….if your on the fence between a core and SE, I suggest you go to a guitar shop and try them both…..they each have their own unique strengths and abilities……….im so elated with the silver sky Im buying a second one with maple fretboard……..if you order one from amazon, sometimes you can find one that had been returned for 200.00 off…….which is incredible

 

[Mayers Layers]

My very first PRS i bought about a month ago!…..I’ll never buy any other brand again ……it is by far the best feeling, playing and enjoying guitar…..I ended up with a silver sky. I have an original’61 fender Strat, and actually prefer my Silver Sky over it……it has a much better neck feel, and those JM pickups are to die for……..best collaboration ever……it’s a vintage strat with new ergonomic features and a neck that feels like an extension of my body………when I went to guitar center I tried both the core model and the SE. needless to say I came home with the SE….the neck felt more playable and not so much radius…..I’ve already had the guitar plek’d at Mike lull’s guitars near my home…..and what a difference that made…….well worth the 200.00 …..I also installed a tortoise pickguard, back trem cover, and a core model truss rod cover…….i ended up with a stone blue body with rosewood fretboard…….the SE came set up almost perfect…..i only had to adjust the action……and intonation is by far the best I’ve ever had….if your on the fence between a core and SE, I suggest you go to a guitar shop and try them both…..they each have their own unique strengths and abilities……….im so elated with the silver sky Im buying a second one with maple fretboard……..if you order one from amazon, sometimes you can find one that had been returned for 200.00 off…….which is incredible

SE are held to the same standards and practices of the core models….PRS has an American engineer over at the core-tek plant in Indonesia…….I recommend watching the YouTube video on building the SE models……I tried both the core and SE model and decided to go with a SE………but I recommend trying about 5 or 6 different ones……you’ll know when you’d picked the right one……..it’s like an extension of your arm………i was going in for a core silver sky, but after playing both models , I liked the 8.5 radius of the SE…..besides that, they felt exactly the same……the Holcomb is a sweet guitar……I tried an SE Holcomb at guitar center…….almost got that instead…..but I’m a diehard Mayer fan…..and I like the sound of single coils…especially when I’m soloing

 

[Mayers Layers]

I do own the SE Holcomb.
It's a great platform: Wood, satin neck, 20" radius, high quality pickups.
Optically I would flip the genuine knobs and the pickup rings.
Functional: Change to locking tuners, change to a quality nut.

To me always slightly disappointing is the sloppy string tension (in genuine Drop C tuning), especially when comparing to my lastest procurement - a seven string.
Therefore: I prefer the seven string for low notes.

In standard tuning the Holcomb may be a better axe, but all other guitars of mine are in standard tuning, so the Holcomb remains in its down tuning.

You could actually go with a McCarty instead and save about 200.00 ….their set up almost the same………Im not familiar with the neck carve on a Holcomb though? I’m assuming it’s different?

 

[Maertl513]

The neck carve on a Holcomb is Wide Thin - as nearly every SE.
But the 20" fretboard radius makes it feel different. Feels like a little bit more flesh in the hand.

 

[Mayers Layers]

The neck carve on a Holcomb is Wide Thin - as nearly every SE.
But the 20" fretboard radius makes it feel different. Feels like a little bit more flesh in the hand.

Ok good to know……….i did notice they felt really wide compared to my silver sky……I myself prefer a c shaped neck that tapers up towards the headstock……….but I don’t shred either…….i had a Washburn with the same style profile neck……for me it was hard to get used to……maybe my hands were too big ? As I always wrap my thumb over the top of the low E…….i found it harder to hold on with the flat , wide neck…….hmmmmmm

 

[Mayers Layers]

The neck carve on a Holcomb is Wide Thin - as nearly every SE.
But the 20" fretboard radius makes it feel different. Feels like a little bit more flesh in the hand.

What is the neck radius on a Holcomb? 10.5?

 

[Wyzard]

If you can play it before you buy it, you’ll be able to answer some of your questions.

Questions about money and value are both very local and personal.

This.

 

[RC Mike]

SE are held to the same standards and practices of the core models…

The marketing is working, for better or worse.

 

[Maertl513]

I don't know the radius of the Holcomb neck. Only the fretboard radius: 20" as mentioned above.
Generally Wide Thin is - for my fingers and palm - similar to the Wizard necks of Ibanez.